LUCKNOW: The city’s push for cleaner surroundings may suffer because of cuts in fund allocation under Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) in the Union Budget.
In the financial year 2018-19, the national allocation for Swachh Bharat Mission was Rs19,427crore, out of which Lucknow Municipal Corporation had received Rs 5 crore. However, in the financial year 2019-20, the fund allocation was reduced to Rs 12,644 crore, out of which Lucknow Municipal Corporation received only Rs 2.5 crore.
In this year’s Budget, the allocation has been further reduced, though marginally, to Rs 12,300 crore. Accordingly, the corporation may get only Rs 2 crore as the share, said LMC officials.
Officials said Swachh Bharat Mission funds are used for buying sanitation equipment, mini trucks, hiring of sanitary workers and repair of public toilets. “Reduced funds mean our spending on infrastructure and human resources required for cleanliness and sanitation would be hit,” said an LMC official, adding, “The real picture will emerge when we get specific details of budgetary provisions.”
So far, LMC has performed miserably in all three swachh surveys, failing to reach in top 100 cities in India. Lucknow was ranked 269 out of 408 cities in 2017. The civic body did better in the 2018 by securing 118th position out of 425 cities. However, it slumped further to 121 out of 425 cities last year.
LMC officials are confident to be in top 10 position in Swachhta competition. However, the slash in funds in SBM may drown civic body hopes this year as well.
In the financial year 2018-19, the national allocation for Swachh Bharat Mission was Rs19,427crore, out of which Lucknow Municipal Corporation had received Rs 5 crore. However, in the financial year 2019-20, the fund allocation was reduced to Rs 12,644 crore, out of which Lucknow Municipal Corporation received only Rs 2.5 crore.
In this year’s Budget, the allocation has been further reduced, though marginally, to Rs 12,300 crore. Accordingly, the corporation may get only Rs 2 crore as the share, said LMC officials.
Officials said Swachh Bharat Mission funds are used for buying sanitation equipment, mini trucks, hiring of sanitary workers and repair of public toilets. “Reduced funds mean our spending on infrastructure and human resources required for cleanliness and sanitation would be hit,” said an LMC official, adding, “The real picture will emerge when we get specific details of budgetary provisions.”
So far, LMC has performed miserably in all three swachh surveys, failing to reach in top 100 cities in India. Lucknow was ranked 269 out of 408 cities in 2017. The civic body did better in the 2018 by securing 118th position out of 425 cities. However, it slumped further to 121 out of 425 cities last year.
LMC officials are confident to be in top 10 position in Swachhta competition. However, the slash in funds in SBM may drown civic body hopes this year as well.
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